title: Alternative splicing within the I-II loop controls surface expression of T-type Ca(v)3.1 calcium channels.
abstract: Molecular diversity of T-type/Ca(v)3 Ca2+ channels is created by expression of three genes and alternative splicing of those genes. Prompted by the important role of the I-II linker in gating and surface expression of Ca(v)3 channels, we describe here the properties of a novel variant that partially deletes this loop. The variant is abundantly expressed in rat brain, even exceeding transcripts with the complete exon 8. Electrophysiological analysis of the Delta8b variant revealed enhanced current density compared to Ca(v)3.1a, but similar gating. Luminometry experiments revealed an increase in the expression of Delta8b channels at the plasma membrane. We conclude that alternative splicing of Ca(v)3 channels regulates surface expression and may underlie disease states in which T-channel current density is increased.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 2908, USA.
authors.forename: Aleksandr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shcheglovitov
authors.forename: Iuliia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vitko
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bidaud
authors.forename: Joel P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Baumgart
authors.forename: Manuel F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Navarro-Gonzalez
authors.forename: T Hilton
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Grayson
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lory
authors.forename: Caryl E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perez-Reyes
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017384:Sequence Deletion
chemical_list: C500994:Cacna1g protein, rat; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type